As students are navigating their middle school years, it's important for them to recognize that their differences are what makes them unique and that they should be proud of the ways they "stand out" from their peers. Recognizing these things will also help them understand that everyone else also has things that make them stand out! Teaching this in conjunction with reading Wonder is especially helpful, as it is easy for students to make connections as they read.
Have students create a poster about themselves. What is it that makes them stand out? What about them is unique? How do these things help them "choose kind" when interacting with others? What precepts do they live by? This may include culture, ability, interests, and friends.
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Student Instructions
Create a poster that celebrating the things that make you different!
In order to help students understand themselves, first help them to understand the character Auggie more fully. Discuss what makes Auggie unique and how that affects the action in the story.
Students cannot just read stories in a vacuum. Encourage students to make connections with the characters in a text because that is one of the important reasons to read. When students connect to characters they are more engaged readers, and they also are able to learn more about themselves from the actions of characters in the story.
Students can focus on what makes them unique after reading Wonder. They will also likely think about how they treat others who are different from themselves after reading this story. Stories offer many life lessons.